An exceptionally professional and longstanding distance learning school that provides a flexible, innovative, well supported and accredited curriculum. With subject specialists, well-resourced support services and a huge breadth of courses, it’s a game changer for home schooling. ‘The way they lead a student through the course sets them up for success,’ said one parent. ‘The school is 100 per cent pupil focused and does everything to provide a caring and supporting learning environment,’ commented another.’ Ninety-eight per cent would recommend it to other families.
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Overview & data
- Pupil numbers
- 3,740 ·
- Religion
- Inter- / non- denominational
- Fees
- Varies per course
Headteacher
Principal
Gavin McLean
Since 2023, Gavin McLean, whose career in international education started in publishing company Macmillan and later included National Geographic Learning before he moved into online schooling, first with Edmentum and then Hudson Global Scholars as
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Learn what pupils and parents really think of this school, along with our expert opinion on the headteacher’s leadership style, the school’s academic results and facilities, the focus on pastoral care, and the range of extra-curricular activities.
Entrance
Academically non-selective (except for some A level entry requirements), with joiners from age 4+ throughout the year. Even IGCSEs and A level courses can be started at any point, presuming there’s enough time to fit in the study hours before the
- Open days
- Take place fortnightly
Exit
Some students transition into a physical school, others use Wolsey Hall Oxford for their entire schooling. Post A levels, majority to university, some overseas, as you’d expect from such an international community. Most popular UK universities are St
Latest results
In 2025, 28 per cent 9-7 at IGCSE; 18 per cent A*/A at A level (40 per cent A*-B). Note that all students enter exams as private candidates, so these results are based only on parents who provide exam results.
Teaching & learning
As flexible as it gets, with students choosing what, where, when and how they study – with no live lessons, no set timetables and no minimum number of subjects. ‘A home schooler’s dream,’ as one parent said, ‘especially if you don’t want them to have
Learning support & SEN
A real strength – around 380 students have SEN or SEMH, and numbers are growing, with 62 per cent of enrolments in the year we reviewed the school, a rise from 44 per cent the previous year. Nearly a quarter of these students are autistic, 21 per
Arts & extracurricular
Online clubs reasonably popular. One tutor said several of her students had ‘clicked with someone else in a club and gone on to be friends outside school’. But all parents we spoke to acknowledge the need for students to attend real-life clubs too.
Sport
Clearly not a reason you choose online schooling, but there’s no shortage of sporty youngsters among these students – many are professional athletes, and nearly all belong to a sports club outside school.
Ethos & heritage
Founded in 1894, this is one of the world’s oldest distance learning organisations. The 1930s were a milestone as they started supplying degree-level courses via the University of London – and a decade later they were supplying British Armed Forces
Pastoral care, inclusivity & discipline
A USP is that every student gets a student progress manager (SPM) who meets them online, then oversees their entire learning journey, including offering advice on future study plans and working with exams officers. ‘They track your progress and are
Pupils & parents
Six main categories – problems with traditional schooling; desire for flexible learning; travelling families; children with SEND; long-standing home schoolers; and wanting a different education focus. Others are seeking supplementary education to
Money matters
Just over half (57 per cent) of parents rated the college as very good value for money, 33 per cent as good and only three parents in total as poor. We found it cheaper than most online colleges with live lessons (which the colleges considers its
- Fee information
- Varies per course
The last word
An exceptionally professional and longstanding distance learning school that provides a flexible, innovative, well supported and accredited curriculum. With subject specialists, well-resourced support services and a huge breadth of courses, it’s a